Scheme promises to ease school bureaucracy

The Federal Government says dozens of schools across regional Western Australia will have greater autonomy as part of a local initiative being rolled out nationwide.

The Government has allocated more than $2 million in funding to 32 Catholic and independent schools across WA.

The initiative is designed to give schools greater control over their own budgets, staffing and governance.

Schools across the south-west and south coast will benefit, as will those in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Kununurra.

Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans says the initiative will reduce the bureaucratic burden that looms over many schools.

However, Senator Evans has criticised the State Government for not taking part in the program, saying every other state and territory has, because they know the scheme will improve student results and support local schools.

A spokesman for the WA Education Minister says the Federal Government's criticisms are laughable, given the Commonwealth has adopted WA's independent public schools initiative as a blueprint for its own scheme.

He says the State Government did not take up the Commonwealth's offer because its plan is inferior.